Kiss - I have the necessary clothes

A while back, I had a conversation with a friend that really stuck with me. She told me—with no ill intent—that I sometimes came across as unfeminine, simply because I usually prioritize comfort. For many people, being comfortable means looking disheveled, perhaps because the clothes are baggy or not very colorful.

And yes, for me, the way I dress or how I choose to present myself physically is directly related to how I feel, because I believe that how we look—or how we choose to look—is a complete reflection of what’s in our minds. If there are insecurities and an intense desire to please everyone and imitate the way the world lives, that to me indicates that you aren’t free.

In a previous post, I talked about how I feel regarding what I was taught flattered my body and what didn’t, and how it was somehow hard for me to let go of that idea. Although I’m not going to talk to you about this again as such, the truth is that I can tell you how I felt when I realized that, beyond what I was taught about how I dress, there is comfort and there are much more important things to consider, like wasting money or even hoarding unnecessary things at home.

I don’t have a lot of clothes, and most people I know could probably name every single item I own because I wear them often. But rather than feeling bad about this or self-conscious about what others might think, I like to think that I have what I need and what I’ve chosen to have on my own. While at some point in my life I had a closet full of clothes that I sometimes didn’t even wear, today I realize that makes no sense at all.

So I can conclude that I feel much better emotionally and about myself now that I have very few clothes and know exactly what to wear for certain activities. I’m not saying we should completely avoid buying a piece of clothing we like; what I’m saying is that I personally feel better now that I’m aware that clothes are just objects we use to cover our bodies.

Thinking this way also led me to the conclusion that, even though many people around me think the best way to feel good is to have clothes from a super-expensive brand, I can easily choose a piece of clothing that I simply like, even if it isn’t brand new and I find it at a thrift store. So, beyond any image I might want to project, what matters to me is looking presentable and feeling comfortable, and if my small wardrobe offers me that, then everything is fine with me.